Video of the Day: Volvo's Mean Green Hybrid Truck Attempts World Speed Record

What's more American than a big truck that that goes really fast? A Swedish freight-hauler hybrid capable of going more than 100 mph of course! In today's installment of Video of the Day, Volvo's Mean Green hybrid tractor-trailer truck attempts to break its own world speed record at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Wendover, Utah.While the truck itself only slightly resembles the ones that blow past you on the freeway, Mean Green has parts all used in production by Volvo. The actual cab of the truck and its frame are production parts, as is the D16 diesel engine and the automated I-Shift gearbox, which works with a hybrid electric motor. However, both Mean Green's engine and transmission have been highly tuned to help propel the tractor-trailer truck down the runway in record fashion. This configuration churns out an earth-moving 2,100 horsepower and about 5,000 pound-feet of torque. The hybrid electric motor is responsible for 200 of the total 1,200 horsepower and 885 of the total 5,000 pound-feet of torque.As for the world record (SPOILER ALERT), Volvo's Mean Green broke its own world record set back in June of last year at Hultsfred Airport in Sweden with a speed of 147.002 mph in the flying kilometer and 95.245 mph in the standing kilometer. The previous record, which was held by Mean Green, stood at 135.943 mph in the flying kilometer and 94.605 mph in the standing kilometer. The record breaking attempt was witnessed by an official from the United States Auto Club which is an extension of the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the international governing body for events like this.Want to see Mean Green go up and down the runway a few times as the semi works to break its own record? Check out the video below.Source: Volvo, YouTube

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